Privacy and data protection

How secure are smart energy grids?

The improved efficiency of smart grids need to be weighed against the cost of security - presenting a unique opportunity for the tech sector and a new market for security companies Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Spyware targets North Korean dissidents via social links, says McAfee

Researchers at security firm McAfee have confirmed that social networks are being used to target North Korean dissidents with spyware Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

EC underlines need for data transfer agreement post-Brexit

The European Commission has emphasised the importance of having a data transfer agreement in place after the UK leaves the European Union Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UAE tech growth prompts firms to review internal IT security

As IT becomes more prominent in the UAE economy, more and more internal connections between people and systems are created, all of which need to be secured Continue Reading

By

• Alicia Buller

ICO fines Carphone Warehouse £400,000

Mobile retailer hit with one of the highest fines for putting personal data at risk as UK privacy watchdog warns that more stringent data protection laws will apply from 25 May 2018 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Max Schrems champions NGO to fight for GDPR rights

Privacy activist whose legal challenge of Facebook led to the scrapping of the Safe Harbour Agreement says crowdfunding a new type of non-government organisation is essential to deliver privacy rights Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Meltdown and Spectre a big deal for enterprises

Although consumers are relatively unaffected by the recently disclosed security vulnerabilities in most modern processors, enterprises need to take the threat seriously. Computer Weekly looks at how enterprise IT and security professionals should be approaching these threats Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Countdown to GDPR

In this week’s Computer Weekly, with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming in to force this year, we look at the challenges for businesses to comply by the 25 May deadline. We examine the future for HPE as CEO Meg Whitman steps down. And we find out how the move to hyper-converged systems affects your backup strategy. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Cyber attacks in 2017 drive Nordic security efforts

The volume of cyber attacks last year has increased boardroom focus on security in the Nordic region Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

Intel to set up new group to focus on hardware security

Chip maker is reportedly planning to form a new group to focus on hardware security as it scrambles to limit the impact of recently discovered security flaws in chip designs Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Top UK and US firms still overestimating GDPR readiness

Less than five months before the compliance deadline for the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), most top UK and US firms are still overestimating their state of readiness, a study suggests Continue Reading

Sweden steps up cyber defence measures

Sweden is tightening up its cyber security defences as part of a wider national security strategy Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Get tooled up to meet GDPR requirements

We look at options for tools to help organisations comply with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading

By

• Renee Murphy

Patch systems against Meltdown and Spectre, urges ICO

UK’s data protection watchdog is calling for organisations to apply security updates to mitigate against exploits of microprocessor flaws as soon as possible to safeguard personal data Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

2018 could be year of critical infrastructure attacks, says report

The coming year is likely to see an increase in the number of cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure (CNI), according to a report based on experts’ forecasts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Zero in on your zero-day vulnerabilities

A zero-day attack comes, by definition, out of the blue. You cannot predict its nature or assess how much damage it might cause, but you can take some basic steps to protect yourself from a potentially crippling cyber strike Continue Reading

By

• Graeme Park

Critical Intel security patch will slow PCs, servers and Macs

AMD shares rise on news that the performance of millions of Windows PCs, Linux servers and Apple Macs is to be impacted by critical updates for a recently discovered security flaw in Intel chips manufactured in the past 10 years Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

What the EU’s new data protection regime means for ASEAN

A large proportion of businesses in the regional economic grouping will be affected by Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, but awareness of the new rules remains low, even in countries with existing data protection laws Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Top IT priorities for Nordic CIOs in 2018

Nordic CIOs tell Computer Weekly about their intentions for the year ahead Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

Top UK and US firms still overestimating GDPR readiness

Less than five months before the compliance deadline for the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), most top UK and US firms are still overestimating their state of readiness, a study suggests Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Ransomware to hit cloud computing in 2018, predicts MIT

Ransomware targeting cloud services is one of the six biggest cyber threats likely to face organisations in 2018, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Top 10 IT security stories of 2017

Here are Computer Weekly's top 10 IT security stories of 2017 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Top 10 cyber crime stories of 2017

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 cyber crime stories of 2017 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK government blames North Korea for WannaCry cyber attack

The UK and US governments say a North Korean group was responsible for the ransomware attacks that hit the NHS and other organisations globally this year Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Top cyber security predictions in APAC in 2018

Cyber criminals will ramp up efforts to mine cryptocurrencies, while mobile malware will rear its ugly head across the APAC region in 2018 Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CW Europe: Eurosport pumps up digital technology for cycling fans

Read how Eurosport is using a novel combination of technology and information to develop immersive viewing experiences for sports fans across a range of platforms. Also find out how Russian state bank Vneshekonombank expects to become a vehicle for a blockchain revolution in the country’s public sector, and what the European Parliament's approval of a new electronic system to store biometric information might mean for UK citizens after Brexit. Continue Reading

Labour MP Liam Byrne launches ‘People’s Plan for Digital’

Shadow digital minister launches online collaborative project for the public and industry to share and debate ideas on the UK’s digital future Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Innovation key to halt cyber attacks

In the light of the number of cyber breaches taking place, innovative security systems are required, according to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Steal a march on cyber criminals through security by deception

Security by obscurity, although a common and tempting practice, is generally not recommended, but security by deception offers a way for defenders to make it more difficult for attackers to succeed and easier for defenders to catch them Continue Reading

By

• Nicholas Fearn

Barclays Bank stops offering Kaspersky software to new users

Bank is no longer offering customers Kaspersky anti-virus software after UK security agency issues warning Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

We're living in a global beta test to determine the legal and ethical boundaries of data collection

In the fast-expanding world of ubiquitous personal data, sometimes it feels like we’re living in an enormous global beta test to work out what’s acceptable and what’s not. This week, Google was hit ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Google faces £2.7bn claim on behalf of 5.4 million iPhone users

Technology giant is accused of harvesting and selling data from millions of iPhone users from 2011 to 2012 who could each receive compensation of several hundred pounds Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Lauri Love would face ‘medieval’ conditions in US prison if extradited over hacking charges

Engineering student Lauri Love should be tried in the UK, court hears, as new evidence is presented on the “medieval” conditions in US jails for people with medical problems Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin & Julia Gregory

Consumer identity management a growing trend

Consumer identity and access management is a growing trend, but system choice is still challenging, according to KuppingerCole Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Businesses need to balance user experience, privacy and security

Balancing user experience, privacy and security for the connected consumer is a key challenge for online businesses, according to KuppingerCole Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Lauri Love: how reformed hackers halted the WannaCry virus

Lauri Love presents a compelling story of the WannaCry malware that nearly brought down the NHS, and the behind the scenes work of former hackers, and security researchers that helped to prevent lives being lost. Love is facing extradition to the US after allegedly taking part in a hacking protest over the death of internet pioneer Aaron Swartz, who faced jail for using a hidden computer to downloading academic journals at MIT. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

UK sale of surveillance equipment to Macedonia raises questions over export licence policy

The UK approved an export licence for the sale of surveillance equipment to Macedonia – while the country was engaged in an illegal surveillance programme against its citizens. A senior minister was consulted on the decision Continue Reading

By

• Tena Prelec

My brother Lauri Love should have the right to a trial in the UK

Lauri Love should face trial over hacking allegations in a British Court, rather than be extradited to the US, where his extraordinary skills will be lost to society, says his younger sister Continue Reading

By

• Natasha Love

UK only average in terms of digital public services

UK government has the innovation skills to become a digital public services leader, but needs to improve the ID and authentication that sits underneath it to reach this goal Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Blockchain could be used for citizen identity services, says Reform

Reform think tank argues that government could use blockchain technology to create a secure identity for citizens to use across public services Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Uber recognises need for consumer trust after breach cover up

New Uber leadership has recognised the importance of consumer trust and that they never should have attempted to cover up a 2016 data breach that affected millions of customers and drivers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Europe not ready for imminent cyber strikes, say infosec professionals

Information security leaders in Europe believe a major breach of critical infrastructure is coming and that data breaches in their own organisations are imminent – yet most are not ready Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW ANZ: On cyber alert

Achieving any form of computer security is an uphill task, costing Australian companies time and money with no prospect of a reprieve any time soon. In this month’s CW ANZ, read about the state of cyber security in Australia, Telstra’s efforts to help enterprises improve their cyber security posture, and how Australian organisations can keep up with the demands of cyber security. Also, find out why unsanctioned cloud apps continue to be a major bugbear among security chiefs in Australia. Continue Reading

CW ASEAN: How managed security services help to reduce cyber risk

The growing complexity and volume of cyber threats has led to rising demand for managed security services that provide the capabilities and technological know-how to combat cyber threats. In this month’s issue of CW ASEAN, read more about the pros and cons of using managed security services and considerations you should be aware of. Also, find out what organizations can do to put the odds in their favor when combating cyber threats. Continue Reading

How the biggest cyber security disasters could have been avoided

The headline-grabbing breaches that hit Accenture and Equifax in 2017 could have been averted had basic cyber hygiene been in place Continue Reading

By

• Jessica McGreal, Contino

Only a quarter of UK law firms are ready for GDPR, study shows

Just 25% of UK law firms are ready for the General Data Protection Regulation and one in five have experienced an attempted cyber attack in the past month Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Why UK police are learning cyber forensics

The need for the UK police force to conduct forensic investigations on computers is nothing new, but a rapid escalation of cyber crime has demanded a different approach Continue Reading

By

• Alex Bennett, Firebrand Training

Muslim hactivists hack “unhackable” IS news site

A Muslim hacktivist group has hacked into Islamic State’s news site and published thousands of subscribers’ details just hours after the site claimed it was impenetrable Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Benelux: Young wayward hackers could help fill Dutch IT skills gap

In this issue, read how an initiative in Rotterdam is helping young people get into the IT sector by targeting those overlooked by traditional methods. Also find out how Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is utilising open source software to create and use a multi-cloud platform with an open API, and how the Netherlands’ Rabobank has moved from tape libraries and robotic arms to a platform-based storage and retrieval system. Continue Reading

GDPR fines may affect almost 80% of US firms, poll shows

Most US companies risk fines for non-compliance with new European data protection laws that apply to all organisations processing any personal data of EU citizens Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

A guide for businesses to China’s first cyber security law

Companies that break China’s new cyber security law may be fined or even have their licence to trade in the country removed Continue Reading

By

• Nick Beckett, CMS

Go beyond GDPR for a competitive edge

By exceeding the bare minimum requirements set by privacy regulations, businesses can win customers by offering greater assurances, says a business adviser Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Businesses unprepared for cyber attacks, warn cyber professionals

Businesses are nowhere near prepared enough for a cyber attack, according to a poll of information and security professionals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Personal data of 46.2 million Malaysia mobile subscribers leaked

The massive data breach is yet another example of a ‘low and slow’ attack that stays dormant inside networks for years, without anyone noticing Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

IOActive warns of security flaws in maritime communication system

Researcher discovers critical security flaws in an Inmarsat maritime communication system, highlighting the cyber risks facing the shipping industry Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Kaspersky Lab explains how NSA data was uploaded

Malware detection triggered an upload of data from a National Security Agency contractor’s home computer, Kaspersky Lab says an internal investigation has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Oversight of intelligence agencies’ data sharing has ‘failed’, court hears

UK’s intelligence services lack adequate oversight and written guidelines when sharing databases of sensitive information, Privacy International argues in secret court Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

A history of hacking and hackers

A security professional’s view on criminal hacking has shifted away from the traditional stereotype of the hacker, towards a much more diverse cross-section of wider society Continue Reading

By

• Danny Moules

Nearly 200 arrested for airline ticketing fraud

Police have arrested nearly 200 people for airline ticketing fraud in an international operation involving public and private sector organisations Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Where will artificial intelligence take us?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasts and sceptics debate the opportunities and risks of the much-hyped technology – we listen in to the House of Lords investigation. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the benefits and challenges of cloud-native applications. And we look at the best practice in defending email systems from cyber attacks. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

IT security hindering productivity and innovation, survey shows

IT security is hindering productivity and innovation across enterprises, research has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

McAfee forges ahead with analytics, deep learning and AI

McAfee is forging ahead with its innovation efforts in advanced analytics, deep learning and artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Focus needs to shift to breach impact, says McAfee researcher

Breach investigations commonly focus on the attackers and their motives, but a security researcher believes there needs to be more emphasis on business impact Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

RSA’s Middle East cyber security conference gains its own identity

RSA Abu Dhabi conference focuses on region’s cyber security needs as digital technology deployments expand Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

UK intelligence agencies ‘unlawfully’ sharing sensitive personal data, court hears

A secret court will decide whether Intelligence agencies are “unlawfully” sharing huge datasets containing sensitive information about the population with industry, government departments and overseas intelligence services. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin & Julia Gregory

Encryption flaw leaves every Wi-Fi network in the world wide open

A Belgian researcher has uncovered a major weakness in the WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocol that is thought to leave every Wi-Fi network in the world open to attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Pizza Hut data breach shows need for board control

The poor handling of the data breach by fast food chain Pizza Hut shows that company boards need to take control, a London-based law firm advises Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

SMEs more vulnerable than ever to cyber attacks, survey shows

The biggest cyber threat to UK and US small businesses is employees’ weak passwords, as the frequency, intensity and cost of cyber attacks continue to rise, a study has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Dutch government agreement increasingly focuses on IT security

The coalition government in the Netherlands has agreed its plan for the next four years, with IT security prominent Continue Reading

By

• Tijs Hofmans

Global cyber security collaboration initiative launched in Krakow

Cyber security ecosystems around the world have launched an initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between regional ecosystems Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How Australia is tackling cyber crime

Telcos such as Telstra and industry associations in Australia are chipping in to help enterprises that are being targeted by cyber criminals with phishing and social engineering exploits Continue Reading

By

• Beverley Head

Yahoo breach affected 3 billion accounts

Yahoo’s personal data breach affected three billion user accounts, the company’s new owners have revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cyber security industry key to solving skills gap

In the face of a growing shortage of cyber security skills around the world, the security industry itself needs to do more to attract people Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Where the device hits the network – a mobile device management update

As business becomes increasingly mobile, we look at the latest trends in mobile device management to give businesses the edge Continue Reading

By

• Rene Millman

WannaCry an example of pseudo-ransomware, says McAfee

The global WannaCry and NotPetya attacks were both examples of pseudo-ransomware, according to McAfee researchers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Global hacker botnet tops 6 million hijacked devices

A year after the first Mirai botnet attacks, the global botnet has grown, with many countries and cities unwittingly hosting large number of bot-infected devices Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Mac OS passwords at risk of theft, researcher warns

Some Apple Mac users are at risk of password theft due to a zero-day vulnerability discovered in some versions of the operating system Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cage director found guilty of terrorism offence after refusing to disclose passwords

Muhammad Rabbani, international director of Cage, is convicted of an offence under the terrorism act after refusing to disclose his mobile phone PIN and laptop password under Terrorism Act Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Malware hidden in CCleaner targeted tech firms

Major tech firms were targeted by malware hidden in Avast’s Piriform CCleaner software, researchers have found, leading to speculation that it may have been state-sponsored espionage attack Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Nation-state actors responsible for most cyber attacks

Companies of all sizes may find themselves faced with highly capable state-sponsored cyber attacks, but steps can be taken to shore up defences Continue Reading

By

• Ai Lei Tao

Cyber crime a significant risk to individuals and organisations

Cyber crime is still a significant risk to individuals and organisations, a report claims, with the top threats including business email compromise, ransomware, and banking and mobile malware Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Technology moving to the centre of Brexit debate

Slowly, technology issues are rising to centre of the Brexit debate – as they should. This week saw the publication of the UK government’s Data Protection Bill – our implementation of the European ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Government aligns data laws with GDPR

The UK government announces details of its data protection law that will align with the EU’s GDPR Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CW Europe: The Macedonian surveillance scandal that brought down a government

In this issue, we look at evidence that Macedonia may have been running covert internet surveillance using sophisticated software supplied by a western technology company. We also look at how politics is changing IT buying habits in France, with French CIOs looking at alternatives to storing data with US-based suppliers as a result of one of President Trump’s executive orders. Download the issue now. Continue Reading

Government wants to remain in EU cyber security club after Brexit

The UK government wants to maintain deep links with the European Union’s cyber security working groups following Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2019 Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Millions of customer records compromised in Equifax breach

Major security breach unfolded over a two-month period, and is thought to have affected 143 million customers in the US, as well as an undisclosed number of Britons and Canadians Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

People with non-IT backgrounds could help fill cyber security skills gap

Organisations should look to fill cyber security roles with people who are curious and have work experience rather than focusing solely on graduates Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Instagram fixes API blamed for celebrity data leaks

Instagram says it has fixed the API responsible for enabling hackers to access some personal details of high-profile users of the service Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security professionals name top causes of breaches

Security professionals have named the top reasons for successful cyber attacks, which are affecting more than half of organisations Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK business welcomes government post-Brexit data sharing plan

Business has welcomed government proposals for data protection to enable unhindered data sharing with the EU after Brexit Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Industrial robots a security risk, warns IOActive

Some of the most popular industrial and domestic robot brands have various vulnerabilities that could by exploited by cyber attackers, a research paper warns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How banking technology has changed since the crash

In this week’s Computer Weekly, 10 years after the financial crash, we examine how banking technology has changed as a result of the economic crisis. We look at how GDPR, the EU’s new data protection laws, will affect your data storage strategies. And we ask if the cryptocurrency boom will remain a niche pursuit or whether the underlying technologies can bring benefits for enterprise IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

NotPetya highlights cyber risk in shipping industry

Malware attack has shown that the shipping industry is vulnerable to cyber attacks, with Danish shipping giant Maersk reporting potential cost of up to $300m Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK rail passengers don’t trust on-board Wi-Fi

YouGov survey commissioned by Cobham Wireless finds UK commuters are increasingly frustrated with connectivity standards on the rail network Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Hackers hit Holyrood with Westminster-style brute-force attack

The Scottish parliament has been hit by a cyber attack similar to the one that struck Westminster in June Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Malicious email spikes in Q2, reports Proofpoint

Malicious email campaigns saw a spike in volume and increased variety in the second quarter of 2017, a cyber security report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Russian cyber espionage group targeting hotel Wi-Fi

A Russian cyber espionage group is targeting hotel Wi-Fi networks to carry out malware infections and potentially steal credentials, researchers warn Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

China tests hack-proof quantum satellite communications

China has tested a prototype communication system that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to make it impossible for hackers to access Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

New TalkTalk fine takes total for poor data protection to £500,000

Information Commissioner’s Office fines TalkTalk for putting up to 21,000 customers’ details at risk of exposure prior to September 2014 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IT pros urged to support ‘WannaCry hero’ Marcus Hutchins

Computer experts fear chilling effect on security research over US arrest of Marcus Hutchins who halted the spread of the WannaCry ransomware Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin and Julia Gregory